‘Fiendish’ puzzle on GCHQ Christmas card leaves Brits scratching their heads

Government Communications Headquarters, commonly known as GCHQ, have given the great British public one final task before 2020 comes to an end.

The intelligence and security organisation has sent out a Christmas card to the nation, but it's not just any old festive greeting.

Rather than a picture of a snowman or Father Christmas, GCHQ has hidden its festive greeting in cryptic code.

Director of GCHQ, Jeremy Fleming, sent the card to "colleagues and partners across the world" before it was made public.

This year, the card features a festive bauble which contains a circuit board pattern with room for nine answers.

According to HertsLive, those attempting to solve it will need to complete a series of letter sequences and arrange it in the correct order to reveal the hidden message.

The card instructs recipients to: "Plot your single-letter answers in the corresponding golden nodes on the bauble.

"Follow the flow of arrows from somewhere frosty to unblock the message."

Unveiling the cards, GCHQ said: "The challenge was put together by our staff, where problem solving is at the heart of our work to help protect the UK as it faces increasingly complex issues and threats to national security.

"Through the design, creation and solving of puzzles, our teams are able to constantly develop their skills in thinking differently and discover new and inventive ways of approaching problems."

Can you crack the card? Show us your attempt in the comments section below.

A spokesman added: "Problem solving is at the heart of what we do.

"Taking on this Christmas cracker gives puzzlers an insight into the skills you need to be a GCHQ analyst.

"Bring together a mix of minds by sharing it with the wise men and women in your household to find the solution."

Those who decided to give it a go were already struggling and took to social media to vent.

One person moaned: "This year's GCHQ Christmas card looks to be a right nightmare to solve and find the hidden message!"

Another joked: "Thank you for wrecking my Friday. I had intended on going shopping but now can't leave the house as I am hooked on this – cheers."

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